Admissions

Admissions

We welcome applications from pupils throughout the UK as well as abroad. We take pupils throughout the academic year into all year groups other than Years 11 and 13. Follow our easy step by step application process to assessment.

Primary School

Primary School

Our lovely Primary School is in Newbury, Berkshire. We offer day and weekly boarding places to primary aged pupils with a hearing impairment. Our key aim is to develop pupils’ English and to develop their self esteem.

Professional Courses

Professional Courses

We offer a wide range of courses for professionals, some in partnership with other organisations. We provide accommodation on site for our residential courses and provide an excellent space for professionals to network.

Centre of Excellence

Centre of Excellence

Mary Hare School came to its current home near Newbury in 1946. Since that time the organisation has grown to include a number of business, as well as post graduate education, training courses and research.

Biology

Why study Biology?

Biology A Level involves the study of a wide range of exciting topics, ranging from molecular biology to the study of ecosystems and from micro organisms to mammoths. If you are interested in the detail of how processes in the body work, in health and disease, the variety of life on Earth, the flow of energy through ecosystems and how nutrients are recycled in the environment, how homeostasis, coordination and gene expression are carried out at a cellular level, then this is the right A Level for you!

Biology is a great choice of subject for people who want a career in environmental, health and clinical professions, such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, physiotherapy, pharmacy, optometry, nursing, zoology, marine biology, environmental sciences or forensic science.

What does the course cover and what is expected of you?

Both AS and A Level Biology are separate qualifications; students will sit all their AS exams at the end of their AS course and all their A Level exams at the end of their A Level course. The A Level grade is only made up of the exam results received at the end of the A Level course; the AS results do not contribute towards this.

AS Biology is a one year course consisting of four main teaching topics; 1 - Biological molecules, 2 – Cells, 3 – Organisms exchange substances with their environment, and 4 – Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms.

Those who go onto the full A Level will study a further four units in their second year. The units covered are; 5 – Energy transfers in and between organisms, 6 – Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments, 7 – Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems, 8 – The control of gene expression.

Throughout both courses, practical activities are planned to develop students’ investigative skills, build on their knowledge and understanding of experimental design, methodology, use of specialist equipment, data collection, analysis and evaluation. This knowledge is assessed in all written exams where 15% of the marks are based on practical-related questions.

The AS exam papers are sat at the end of the AS course, in two 90 minute papers which cover any content from unit 1 - 4 , with questions on relevant practical skills.

For the A Level, three 120 minute papers are sat at the end of the two year course covering all of the teaching content (unit 1 – 8) with questions on relevant practical skills included.

Pupils will be taught a minimum of eight lessons per week with support tutorials being organised when necessary. Most of the course content is teacher-led; theory work is backed up by appropriate practical work, problem solving tasks, individual and group activities. However to complete the courses successfully a minimum of eight hours a week of independent study is required. There is an extensive range of books and scientific journals, both in the main school library and the Biology Department as well as access to the Internet. Students are encouraged to make full use of the well-equipped laboratories (modern data-logging equipment, computers, video microscopes etc) during school hours and to see themselves, along with the science staff, as enthusiastic members of the ‘A’ Level team intent on achieving the highest standards.

Where can it take you?

Studying A Level Biology allows progression into many areas:

• Specialist areas of Biology; including Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Medicine, Pharmacy or any degree course requiring a high level of analytical and evaluative skills.

• Biochemistry which is a broad based scientific degree giving good grounding in scientific techniques. This would offer opportunities for employment in the scientific laboratories of, e.g. the pharmaceutical industry, the food manufacturing industry or hospital laboratories.

• There are opportunities for careers in environmental work following qualifications in specialised areas such as Marine Biology, Freshwater Biology or Ecology.

• There are the more traditional courses in which A Level Biology is important, e.g. Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science, Environmental Health Care, Pharmacy, Pharmacology, Physiotherapy and Nursing.

Entry requirements

Prospective students should preferably have achieved a Grade 6 or above in Double Award Science (or equivalent) in the higher tier. Students should be aware that the course has a strong biochemical bias and that mathematical calculations form an integral part of the course. The scientific language used in this course is of a complex nature and students need to remember that elements of all papers focus on comprehension analysis, extended responses and an essay which is required in paper 3 as well as specialist subject knowledge.

Exam Board

AQA

Student View

Biology A Level has been really good fun, we have covered a huge range of interesting topics, like classification, health and disease, immunology and genetics. There is a lot of information to learn and understand so you have to be really interested to put the effort in to do well in exams which are quite hard. Teachers are always available for support after school; you have to do a lot of background work to do well in this area. I’ve loved it and want to study more at university when I leave!

Teacher's Tip

A Level Biology is a challenging but fascinating subject; you will be taught through direct teaching by specialist subject teachers with lots of experience of making Biology A Level as interesting, visual and accessible as possible to deaf students, alongside regular practical opportunities and application studies, biology focused trips, project group work and a lot of individual study; this recipe will enable you to achieve your potential in this subject. If you enjoyed Biology at GCSE and are enthusiastic about extending your knowledge, come and talk to us to see if Biology A Level is right for you.